Holy Cow is PolyKow!

What I got on Target!!!!!!!!!!

2011-05-12T08:50:00.000-07:00

How Kids Learn~~~!

2011-05-09T15:20:00.000-07:00

Like her older brother did, Gigi is learning at her own pace in the way best for her.
MD was writing his name at around 3.5 and Gigi just wrote her name at 5.
This Friday we were signing cards to send to the grandmothers and Gigi signed her card.

It was the first time she did ! She was never made to write any letters or her name.
She usually sends e-mails to a friend and is able to type a few words but most of the time I spell it out for her and point to the letters she cannot remember. She does like typing sometimes and using roses to decorate the text.

Learning happens everyday in our home and it is never ceases to amaze me how children learn
naturally.
It was the same way with her brother and according to his annual testing , required in Minnesota, he spells at between the 6th and 7th grades level.
Here is Gigi's first time writing out her name!

Easter eggs, angels, dragons and wolves!!!!!!

2011-04-21T17:35:00.000-07:00

That is what we have been up to!!!!!!!!!

Snow on the ground-where is Spring????

2011-04-20T15:12:00.000-07:00

This has been a long cold winter and the kids and I have not enjoyed the fun winter stuff because it was so cold.
We have not made a single snowman as the snow was usually "powdery" and not good sticky stuff due to very low temperatures.

At least this ~~unwelcomed~~ snow/cold spell gave us that chance and Gigi got to make a snowman or two!

It has been a long time!!!!

2011-04-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I posted. I am goin to start blogging again as a way to keep my children's life documented.
I want them to be able to look back and remember all!!
So here it goes!!!!

CAKE!

NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER-WABASHA,MN

FACE PAINTING

GIGI'S FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS

GIGI'S BIRTHDAY

BEST FRIENDS PRINCESSES

GIGI'S AND MD'S GIGERBREAD HOUSE

FACE PAINTING BY GIGI

Some pictures of the last few months!

A Day at the Beah in Minnesota in November!!!!!!!!!

2009-11-08T19:12:00.000-08:00

Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!! Link and Barbie Musketeer!

2009-11-02T09:52:00.000-08:00

Most of the candy has ben open and tossed, some is still in their buckets and they maybe ate 5-10% in the last two days.

It is just candy! The fun is to trick or treat!

Every Pony needs a little girl to love!

2009-10-10T17:39:00.001-07:00

Honey when she arrived

Honey a month after she arrived

And this is Honey now!

Here are the pictures of Honey when we got her , a month later and than again about 3-4 months later.
A big difference when you are loved isn't it!

Every Pony needs a girl!!!

Parenting on Facebook.

2009-07-24T18:10:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Gail's post on her teenagers and a Facebook discussion she had.

This was an exchange on one of my friend from La Leche League Facebook wall. Needless to say the contrast to what I am used to in the unschooling boards is huge.

This is about a little boy not 3 and a half years old yet.

Its very sad to see parents create such an adversarial relationship with their kids from the get go. All because of a couple of bucks that it cost for a box of Band-Aids!

MOM's son is howling "Band-aid!!! Band-aid!!! Band-aid!!!" over and over and over non-stop now for 15 minutes... because he wants a band-aid but doesn't need one. I have to draw the line somewhere, or there won't be any left when they're needed.... I'm stubbornly refusing to give in this time! ugh

Poster 1-I understand the frustration, but it's still kind of funny! M. occasionally whined about needing a band-aid for his toe, every time he noticed the little blood blister on his toe nail from dropping his sippy cup on it. It happened at least 6 months ago! Luckily it finally grew out a week or two ago, ha ha.
Poster 2-don't give up hang in there girl!
Poster 3-I, too, sturggle with the Band-Aid battle! Stick to your guns!
Poster 4-For us it's food... this morning our son wanted butter on his muffin. I gave him some, he picked off the butter and ate it without any muffin, then asked for more. I gave him more and took the butter away. He ate the butter and they screamed and cried for more. It' tough!
Poster 5 -No blood, no band-aid! That's what my mom's rule always was. Grandma always gave us a band-aid regardless. I admit I'm a softie when it comes to giving them out. Hang in there

MOM-there's always something! it's hard -- if you let them do it once, they'll keep trying next time! kind of like my raccoon I guess, he's back for more food ;) of course.
ME- Take a few out of the box and give him the box. Its less than $2 and your child will be happy and know mom cares.
MOM-see, I've let him in the past when it's borderline, but we've gone through so many in the past week! I feel the need to start limiting it to real blood/injuries, not past ones that are scabbed over and almost healed... He used to go in there and get his own, now I'm locking the door and putting them up high!
Poster 6-Been there, done that! Be strong!!
Poster 7 -Okay, the way I look at it, it's not about the bandaid - it's about the fact that he is screaming about it for 15 minutes! No means no, that's what kids have to learn!!! Don't get me wrong, this is NOT about blame here- my 9-year-old is still learning and still whining and throwing fits when she doesn't get her way . . . but she has to learn the fits aren't going to get her anywhere besides up into her room until she is done!!! Oh the challenges of parenting!!! HANG IN THERE, HEATHER!!! We are all with you!!!
KIDS GRANDMOTHER ( dad's side and former LLL leader)-And as Grandma, I can say,"this too will pass". Soon enough Zach will be handing out bandages to his kids. :)
ME-Grandma is right.

How sad..... My daughter , who is the same age, has had boxes of Band-Aid applied all over her body many times. It always makes her feel better when she gets hurt or it is plain fun to have them all over. One time I think I counted about 23 on her. Wish I had a picture taken.....

Bubble Fun !!!!!!

2009-06-18T19:20:00.000-07:00

Grandma foot massage/soaker/spa
+ a little dish detergent= lots of fun!!!!

From Tiger to Wolf in one afternoon!

2009-05-21T08:49:00.000-07:00

Naruto is not a Tiger anymore but a Wolf!!!!

Gigi makes a cake and eats it too!

2009-05-14T15:12:00.000-07:00

The best part of making a cake IS eating the batter!
Like I said before:
You can have ( or make) you cake and eat it too!
Specially if you make it a colourful cake.

Oxbow Zoo with friends.

2009-04-30T16:27:00.000-07:00

Gigi and Sarah, Dakota and Naruto love each others company.

Here we are at a local small Zoo that we love to go on nice days.

Life before my children.

2009-04-27T13:59:00.001-07:00

In my 36 years of life before having my children I did many special and fun things.

I travelled a lot and I worked in many different areas.

Of all I did volunteering at the Special Olympic Summer Games in 1999 was the most amazing accomplishment before my children were born.

I was assigned to the Brazilian Swim Team as an interpreter/guide/facilitator.

I went in hoping to help these athletes and little did I know I was the one who was helped.

To get to know these amazing people was something that changes my life. I treasure every minute of those long, long days.

Even after growing up with a cousin that has Down Syndrome and is an amazing person I still had so much to learn.

I keep in touch with some of the people from back them specially one athlete that I fell in love with: Elizete. This girl was always smiling and ready to love everyone.

I wish I could give back to them what they gave to me. I do not have words to describe it.

Just live your life to the fullest under any circumstance and be joyful of every little thing that comes your way. Laugh, live and love.

All the pretty little horses- Should we get Gigi a pony???Please VOTE! ;-)

2009-04-12T16:53:00.000-07:00

Gigi, my cowgirl, loves horses very, very much.

So.......

We have friends that want to give Gigi a pony.

They had Honey for their kids but the kids have outgrown her and she needs a home.

Should we get her??????????

Gigi nursing her baby

2009-04-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

Like mom Gigi makes leitinho ( milk) in her "boobahs" for her babies.

Unschoolers having fun in Minnesota!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-01T17:55:00.000-08:00

We braved the weather...

Some crashed .....
We had tattoos sharing.....

Parents chilling.....

Made new friends and saw old ones....

Thanks to an incredible woman- Heather Brown!

Gigi played with her best friend Sarah.

Mothers and daughters had fun together!

Friends left happy!!!

Kids went wild!!!!!!!!

MD ( Naruto Storm Polikowsky Pie) played hard!

Brothers and sisters played together...

MD and one of his many friends!!!!

This past Thursday and Friday the Minnesota Unschoolers had a place to gather and have fun!

My wonderful friend Heather Brown organized the event!

She has been a huge help at the yahoo group I inherited from Kelli Traaseth when she moved south to warmer pastures....

So I have been talking to the group about getting something together and Heather just grabbed the idea and ran with it!

The results were 2 days filled of fun, laughter, old friends and many new friends.
There were around 60 people in our group!!!!!!!

We are doing it again! That is for sure!!!!!

Kids interview about Mom-Meme

2009-02-24T12:40:00.000-08:00

I loved this and stole it from Madeline.

1. What is something your mom always says to you?

Gigi-Crazy stuff

MD- I love you

2.What makes your mom happy?

G- some stuff

MD- Me

3. What makes your mom sad?

G: some water makes you mad

MD- when I m not playing with you ( her)

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

Gigi is done answering and moves on to play.

MD-Tickles me.

5. What did your mom like to do when she was a child?

MD-listen to songs

6. How old is your mom?

G: I don't know

MD-90 or a little lower than that

7. How tall is your mom?

G-Taller than boobahs ( she calls my breast that )

MD- 8 feet or a littler bigger or a little "littleoer"

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

Gigi not answering again!

MD-play with us

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?

MD- Work on the computer! That simple! which you are right now!

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

MD- For being a nice mom.

11. What is your mom really good at?

MD- Sudoku

12. What is your mom not very good at?

MD- Mario Bros

13. What does your mom do for her job?

MD- Read messages. You don't have any jobs....maybe.. do you have a job?

14. What is your mom's favorite food?

MD- Sushi

15. What makes you proud of your mom?

MD- Typing up words on Roblox for me.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?

MD- you

17. What do you and your mom do together?

MD- Used to play Mario bros and will still play if she finds her DS

18. How are you and your mom the same?

MD- nothing just Roblox which you do not play a lot

19. How are you and your mom different?

MD-Look different

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

MD- She likes me

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

MD- Getting money for all of us to buy stuff. He makes money for us.

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

MD.Places which we have not gone in a while which we used to go .

Happy- I have been tagged!

2009-02-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

I have been tagged by beautiful Mindy from Dancing Chickens - Do you think she knows I LOOOOVE chickens!?

Here it goes:

Six things that add to my joy and happiness...

1. My kids and watching them sleep makes me melt.

2. Baby calves, kittens and puppies ( so cliche!)

3. Movies and books. I love to read and watch movies- since I had kids I don't do it as much anymore.

4. Going to the beach or the mountains on a beautiful crispy sunny day!

5. Seeing my children and my husband happy and laughing.
and last but not least:

6. My wonderful girlfriends. I am truly blessed to have great friends.

Here ...I tag:

Ronnie- I have not met her IRL but would love to spend a few hours with her and her husband Frank

Kelly - I feel like were are twin sisters separated by birth some times.

Melissa- Because I wanted to take Josh , her son, home after the Live and Learn Conference. She might not have time - she is about to have kid number 8- guess now she can spare one??!!!!

Heather- One of the most dedicated woman I know- I am lucky to have her on my side as a friend!

Happy Childhood

2009-02-05T11:05:00.000-08:00

I had a great childhood. A present and loving mother . No she was not perfect but was pretty good compared to most.
We were a pretty wild bunch! Here is me trying out horses so I could get one. This one "Coke" ended up being my sister's horse.

The best place in the world! My grandparents hobby farm/getaway house in the mountains.

Perfect weather and lots of fun and freedom.

My brothers and sister join me at my Hawaiian Birthday Bash!

Do I need to say more????

This is coming back from art class with paint from head to toe and eating ice-cream.

I remember this day .....

A Happy Childhood does last forever....make the most of it for your kids!

N00B spectacles

2009-01-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

I have to get my eyes checked. I think it is age. So now I am not only going to be hard of hearing ...I will need to pull my glasses our of the case and actually wear them.

Am I a n00b???

New Years Resolution!

2009-01-01T18:23:00.000-08:00

My New Year Resolution is to do better even when tired.

Hubby Mine

2008-12-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

Brian and Naruto
Brian, Gigi and Spirit's butt!

Wake up daddy!

Farm raised, rugged man.

I read this over at Ronnie's - Since I talked about myself last meme this one is for Brian.

1. He’s sitting in front of the TV: what is on the screen?
ESPN, a game, sports documentaries, more sports,...typical guy stuff.

2. You’re out to eat. What kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
French. Always French dressing.

3. What is one food he doesn’t like?
Not that he is a picky eater but for those that don't know Brian has a bicycle accident 10 years ago that left him without the senses of smell and taste so he only eats things he can remember and used to like, that look the way he likes it and have the right texture. Not a lot of variety because of it. But I would say he does not like anything dry.

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order?
Wow It has been years since we have gone to a bar! He would order diet coke! He does not drink alcohol. ( I do!)

5. Where did he go to high school?
Byron High School, Byron Minnesota

6. What size shoe does he wear?

13 Wide- big hands, big feet... you get it!

7. If he were to collect anything, what would it be?
Excellent cows to show!

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
Tuna on a wheat bun.

9. What would the Husband eat every day if he could?
Sweet stuff and he does too!Candy, chocolate, cookies, you name it he eats everyday! He lives on those things- At night he likes healthy stuff like salads and grilled Salmon followed by a big bowl of ice-cream and cookies!

10. What is his favorite cereal?
Nowadays....Raisin Bran Crunch.

11. What would he never wear?
He is a simple dresser. Bibs and jeans for the farm life or athletic apparel for the day to day.
He would not wear sandals to save his life!

12. What is his favorite sports team?
Twins, Timberwolves, Vikings. But lately he likes the Twins more

13. Who is his best friend?
Me no doubt about it!

14. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do?

Swear. I love swearing and he finds it offensive unless the cows got out then its a go.

15. How many states has he lived in?

He was born and raised in the house we still live today.

16. What is his heritage?
Norwegian and German- He is a Minnesota boy!

17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind?
I love baking- It would be chocolate. And very moist or else he won't eat.

18. Did he play sports in high school?
Football and Basketball. He gave up Football at 13 when he had a spinal fusion and the doctors told him he could not play anymore. They actually told him he could not farm, play any sports, lift weight of any kind... they would be surprised at all he does today! Duathlons and all!

19. What could he spend hours doing?
Anything to do with cycling , running, his show cows and the kids.

Merry moments on Christmas day!

2008-12-27T15:55:00.000-08:00

Naruto loves red!

Gigi and Grandpa Jim

Hiding from the camera!

Gigi and cousin Laura

Naruto, cousin Robert and Brian -playing X-Box 360

Naruto, Gigi and cousins Laura and Robert

Gigi and her favorite things - horses, Barbie Diamond Castle and Disney Princesses

Wow! that is what Gigi wanted!

Gigi and Laura coloring together.

Gigi and Alexa- from Barbie Diamond Castle

Bold the things you have done

2008-11-24T20:08:00.000-08:00

(Stolen from Frank who stole it from Sandy Feet.)

1. Started your own blog -"You think?" as Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs likes to say on NCIS

2. Slept under the stars My mom and I used to do that a lot. Bring sleeping bags out and sleep under the stars. 3. Played in a band . I am musically challenged. Really.
4. Visited Hawaii when I was 17 years old-that is 25 years ago!
5. Watched a meteor shower a dozen times and always made a wish for every one of them.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity - Once I gave some money I had for gasoline that month.
7. Been to Disneyland/world ( both)Yes and had fun like a kid!

8. Climbed a mountain .I climbed Pico da Agulhas Negras in Itatiaia National Park, Brazil

9. Held a praying mantis I love those buggers!!!
10. Sang a solo-I cannot hold a tune to save my life- even my kids tell me to stop singing!
11. Bungee jumped- I could never do I am "chicken"!
12. Visited Paris with my now husband - 2 months after we met.
13. Watched a lightning storm from the top of a mountain. It was miles away so a beautiful spectacle on a Summer night.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch I am a really good artist ( drawing specially) and very few people know that.
15. Adopted a child- no but I think about it sometimes.
16. Had food poisoning- no I am those people that can eat anything, I mean anything.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables -Yes and I like them so much I think they are too cute to eat...but so much more tasty than store bought.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train. I loved sleeping on the train bed, all the moving from side to side....
21. Had a pillow fight. I love pillow fights!!!!!!!!!!!
22. Hitch hiked One time when our car broke down!
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill Hell yeah! But worked sick many days too!
24. Built a snow fort -I am from Rio de Janeiro-but I still have time now that I am in Minnesota!
25. Held a lamb-
26. Gone skinny dipping. Oh yeah! Many times......did I say I grew up in Brazil a few blocks from the beach??!!

27. Run a Marathon - no way. I run from running!Brian runs enough for both of us.

Brian is he one in the right - pictured here after running a race.

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse Solar and lunar. Yep!
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset Love sunrises in the beach!
31. Hit a home run -only if you mean by marrying my hot husband!
32. Been on a cruise - I have been inside cruise boats and even slept in one but never took the cruise for an overnight.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors France and Belgium but not Germany , Portugal and Holland.
35. Seen an Amish community Yep I even go shopping there once in a while.
36. Taught yourself a new language I learned Spanish all by myself!
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - I am satisfied but would still like more money! Do I contradict myself?
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing- only indoor climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke- ARE YOU CRAZY!?
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant. I bought meals for homeless people and kids from restaurants.
44. Visited Africa- that was my childhood dream after I saw the movie Born Free

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight Yes but never with a person I loved :(
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted by a family friend
48. Gone deep sea fishing- I have gone in the boat but did not fish!
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person -
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris- No way I was going to stay in line and pay all that money! - The truth is we only had one day in Paris to see it all so we stayed in the bottom and looked up!
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling -I looooove scuba diving!
52. Kissed in the rain- my kissable husband!
53. Played in the mud- I played in the mud, in the sand, in the dirt, in the manure, you name it!
54. Gone to a drive-in theater- Last time I went was in 1983
55. Been in a movie- no but in many TV Ads and TV shows in Brazil
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - many times from dog business to producing stickers for kids.

Started showing dogs professionally at 15. Here is at 17 winning a puppy group with my schnauzer puppy!

58. Taken a martial arts class- the only one in my family that did not
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies- not but used to eat a lot of it!
62. Gone whale watching Yes but we did not see any whales:(
63. Gotten flowers for no reason -from my now husband before we even met in person!
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma- I used to be a VIP donor! I used to donate every 60 days for years.
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check many! All my mistake for not keeping it organized!
68. Flown in a helicopter with my dad in my birthday over the city of Rio de Janeiro- stunning!.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy- no but I painted a picture of one of them and I still have the painting in my bedroom wall.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial- with my cousin Alex
71. Eaten Caviar- With my grandfather when I was a child!
72. Pieced a quilt- I am not a crafty person!
73. Stood in Times Square Absolutely!
74. Toured the Everglades - does driving across it counts?
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle with my crazy friend Zeca Maron on a Ninja
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person And even took a little plane ride to fly over it
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper A few times all for good stuff.
85. Read the entire Bible .

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - I cannot kill a fly!but I can enjoy an already dead animal.

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life - some kid swimming on the beach that really did not know how to swim. I was only around 10 or so.

90. Sat on a jury - no but I have a Law Degree

91. Met someone famous-I know a lot of famous people in Brazil. Grew up around famous people because of my father's profession

92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one -my biggest fear is loosing a child.

94. Had a baby -TWO!!

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit- my ex-husband stuff with his ex-wife!Long story......

98. Owned a cell phone Since 1992

99. Been stung by a bee- many times!

And...I VOTED FOR ....I don't vote yet. I only hold a green card. You need to get you citizenship for voting and it costs a bunch of money!

Have you cake and eat it too!!!!!!

2008-11-15T15:06:00.000-08:00

Gigi has discovered a very yummy body wrap ! Cake and frosting will make you sweet, soft and definitely mouth watering.

On a F**k Roll

2008-10-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

Brian and I have laughed so hard with this video and picture that we wanted to share.

see more pwn and owned pictures

Mad Cow

2008-10-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

This is funny. Too bad it is a picture of a cow since bulls have a different shape to their heads.But non the less...

WARNING: foul language and sexual insinuations

The Last Unicorn

2008-10-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

I found this movie looking for horse movies for Gigi and it has become our favorite movie of the moment.
She calls her big stuffed unicorn Illusions. We sleep with it in our bed.

This the other version of the song and the movie opening:

More hair tranformations!

2008-09-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

Gigi AKA Cinderella also is sporting a new hair style thanks to Naruto.

She and Daddy went for the minimal approach.

Their heads feel like stroking teddy bears. I sometimes do get sympathy looks and have been asked once how she was doing.

This is Cinderella giving Daddy a hair cut !

Naruto- what is in a name?

2008-09-15T13:51:00.000-07:00

MD has changed his name again ...and hair

He used to be Mario and has been called Buzz, Indy ( Indiana Jones)and Luke ( Skywalker).

Now he officially introduces himself as Naruto.

He is also doing Taekwon Do and loving it.

Selfish Passion

2008-09-14T18:29:00.000-07:00

Pat Robinson wrote this about 4 years ago and posted at the AlwaysUnschooled Yahoo Group today so I asked her if I could put it here and she said OK.

I just loved it as it is rings so true for me.

Here is goes:

Selfish Passion

I have a confession about a selfish passion of mine. It seems to have developed to the exclusion of many other worthy and enjoyable goals which I have held in the past. My passion is so integral to my Being now, that it is inseparable from my core needs.

I would have thought that I was sacrificing my other pleasures,challenges, and well deserved indulgences, if it hadn't become such a prominent aspect of my life. I thought that I "should" continue to be involved in my prior avocations, with due awareness of their continued importance, in my current and future life. But my passion seems to have become so rewarding and fulfilling, that I don't choose to participate in many of my prior activities. And my prior loves don't have the same significance that they once had.

My passion challenges me physically in the same way that exercising with the goal of climbing Mt. McKinley once pushed me further than I thought possible.

My passion challenges me mentally in the same way that the acuity of critically ill patients once demanded my most attentive and intellectual self.

My passion challenges me emotionally in the same way that caring for indigent people who had to choose between buying medicines or food or paying housing expenses, drained and empowered me to do more.

My passion challenges me socio-culturally in the same way that assimilating a third world culture required me to question all my assumptions.

My passion has supplanted the multitude of experiences which I once considered a whole and full life. But, I am becoming aware that my passion actually fulfills my goals of stretching my strengths beyond what I thought humanly possible.

My passion displays the beauty in every little thing, when I thought I must search and travel to find the beauty of the world.

My passion has provided me with opportunities to find the courage, and confidence, to follow my own path.

My passion has developed compassion for both, myself and others,beyond the judgments that I "knew" as right and wrong in the world.

My passion has demonstrated the hope of the future despite any insurmountable challenges of the moment.

My passion has shared the trust in all the goodness of life.

My passion has surrounded me with the joy of innocence that I lost a sa child, and opened my heart to its delights.

My passion has developed talents that I never knew were available tome, although I always demanded more of myself; but I never demanded as much as creative problem solving with another demands.

My passion has cultivated an imagination of the world as it could be.

My passion has endowed me with a reverence in wonder and miracle more devout than any faith could.

My passion has amplified my understanding of my significance in the universe.

My passion has produced more love than I dared to believe was possible.

My passion has given me the gift of faith in humanity.

My passion is being my son's mother.I have no other passion that holds more self-indulgence and personal growth.

Pat Robinson

Thanks Pat!
and thanks to Heather Brown for the picutes.

Racer X nd MD

2008-08-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

Here a little bit of cat love from Racer X to MD ( still wearing his cast on left broken wrist/arm).

Princesses can do chores too

2008-08-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Who said princesses don't get their hands dirty. Gigi does chores everyday. She does it in style too!

There was a storm coming but she needed to go see her Bubbles ( her calf she showed at County Fair)!

Hot Dogs and Gigi

2008-08-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

Dad likes to call the show cow "hot cows" but Gigi calls them "hot dogs".

Libby is our "hot dog" according to Gigi. She can pick her out even when she is in with all the other cows.

That is hard even for me! But she can tell who is who. And at 30 months old I know she cannot read tags yet ( show cows don't have tags anyway!)

Racer X and Gigi

2008-08-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

Since our barn cats are all spayed and neutered we are now adopting stray or barn cats already fixed from CampCompanion who has helped us with out cats.

A couple months ago a cat shelter in town was closing and Michelle ( from the above organization) was tyring to place some animals. MD and Gigi love cats, specially MD so we went to take a look at them.

They fell in love with Stephen the white cat. We them decided that he would come live in the barn with our other cats. Our barn cats are taken care of as best as we can since some are feral.

They get heat lamps and shelter in our cold winters and food everyday. They also get medical care as best as we can ( see reason above).

Most cats are now friendly but we a few that you cannot touch. Michelle told us that Stephen had been a wild cat and he was friendly enough but to not let the kids pick him up.

A week after Stephen, now called Racer X- Speed Racer's brother cause he has a grey X in his head, kids can do almost anything to him. Gigi calls him Speed Racer but she know he is Racer X

He is absolutely become a pet! He loves the kids and is extremely friendly. If you sit down he will jump in your lap and rub you until you can't take it anymore! Or he will sneak and go take a nap with Gigi.

Singing

2008-08-13T17:22:00.000-07:00

I can't sing to save my life. Really. Cannot hold a tune.
I am "vocally disabled" but at least I can sing the right words ( most of the time anyway).
Here is someone who ...well.....I will let you hear it for yourself.

We won!!!!!!!!!

2008-08-04T22:15:00.000-07:00

MD and I won Best Video on Learn Nothing Day Contest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YAY for us!

And here is mario555555 AKA MD dressed with the shirt:

Best part is getting Sandra Dodd's book Moving a Puddle or Thinking Sticks.
So much fun making our YouTube Video !!!

We lost Landis.

2008-07-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

One of our most important cow just had to be put down this past Tuesday. She was only four and a half years old.
On Friday night she got done milking as she was on of the last cows to be milked ( show cows and fresh cows go last)
She had just calved a few days earlier and was fat. She is also very big. She has been in a grass pasture and had lost a lot of weight but we could not put her on a diet since she was pregnant so the pasture was healthy for her and baby.
Well we are in the barn and my husband goes looking for her on the pasture since she did not come in to eat and he wanted to get her to her special pen.
The cows get food outside in the pasture and inside in the big freestall barn and they usually like to come in because of water.
She would always come into the barn since she knows she gets special food in her pen.
He finds her a few feet from the exit of the milking barn down on the floor.
The nightmare started that second . This was 9:30 at night. Next morning at 5:00 AM my hubby leaves for a two and a half hours drive one way to get the AQUACOW for her. He gets back home and we get her in and fill up with water. She cannot float her hips and hind legs.
She is so big and the aqua cow is even small for her but it helps to keep the weight off.
We keep her in for a few hours and then drain and we do that Saturday and Sunday all day and night. She is eating great and she is feisty and fighting every minute of it.
On Monday he drives again for another 5 hours to get a sling and see if that would help.
Again not working so good and she is also a bit to big for it.So we load her in to the trailer and take her to the University of Wisconsin -Madison where they are the best.
There they have a special sling that takes the cow to an aqua cow with controlled temperature and they can finally examine her and x- ray her.
They have state of the art stuff for cows there.
Hubby got home at 100AM.
The chief intern calls this morning ( She is awesome and has saved many famous Dairy Cows like the Jersey Veronica)

Well Landis dislocated her hips so bad there was nothing they could do.
She thinks it is because she was so fat that it was so badly dislocated ( probably got into a "fight")
We had to put her down. My husband is devastated.
We couldn't even save her ovaries since she just calved and its not cycling yet.

Showing Dogs

2008-07-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

Some of you know that I have been showing dogs since I was 13 years old ( almost 30 years!).

Here is a picture of me winning at 15 with a clients Weimaraner named Yankee.

At 15 I was already one of the best handlers in the Brazil. I made my own money and had clients everywhere.

My Indiana Jones

2008-07-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

MD loves Indiana Jones. We went to see the movie together when it came out. We had so much fun!!! Here is MD as Indy.

Check out the many faces of MD HERE

Learn Nothing Day- by Schuyler Waynforth

2008-06-30T15:14:00.000-07:00

IS COMING!
On July 24 I will absolutely, definitely NOT post because all unschoolers are asked to take a day off (finally) and take a break from learning.
Other homeschoolers call us lazy, but they've been taking days off all the time. Unschoolers just do what they do morning and night, on weekends, in the summer. Let's give it a rest, people.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since I am the lazy unschooler I am copying this from my friend Schuyler ( I cannot come up with anything better to write or more clever anyway!!)

Vacancy

2008-06-03T09:09:00.000-07:00

Playing in the sand pile next to the barn

I keep inviting unschooling friends to come over and visit our farm. I have plenty of room ( even if you have 7 kids-hint-hint or live in another Continent) and beds for all. The house is messy and the walls have lots of drawings on. I have guinea pigs that live in my formal Living room. We have a 20 dollar couch an only a table in the kitchen. Nothing is fancy but is fun. MD ( nowadays he likes to be called Mario, Luke Skywalker or Indy-for Indiana Jones) loves sleep overs. There are nice parks in town and an adorable free zoo around the corner. The air is pure like country air and has a wonderful mixture of manure and freshly cut hay aroma.

My lawn is made of dandelions and is almost knee high since we like it natural ( or I don't have time to mow it).

So you are welcome. Let me know when you can get here.

Game Over- Addicted to Shrooms

2008-05-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

The last post reminded me of this movie I love from YouTube:

Sinfull Morels

2008-05-17T15:50:00.000-07:00

Forgive for I have sinned....

I have received a bag full of Morel Mushrooms this afternoon from my neighbours.

I could have frozen some. I could have shared with Brian.

Gluttony.

I ate them all. Every little bit of them.

I just love all kind of mushrooms.

Portobello, Shitake, Morels, White Truffles, Black Truffles,....

I am in heaven....er...going to hell....( if only I believed in that stuff).

HOT COWS!!!!!!

2008-05-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

These are our new additions here at the farm.

I just hope they make lots of embryos so we can make our money back.

There are two sister from Canada one bought at this sale .

Here is Avery and her sister Ava :

Avery

Ava

And here is the "fancy" Jasper from the Regancrest sale

Retro ( the one on the left)

I have People!

2008-05-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

When I said I had people I meant I had people. And what a wonderful writer she is.
She wrote this great article that came out yesterday at my local paper. She was on of the friends sitting right next to me during the "breastfeeding" incident. Here is the link to it:

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/?a=342167&z=10

The Girls

2008-05-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

This is Gigi, Buttercup and Sugar.

Gigi loves her guinea pigs so much. We even built a two story cage for them!

They are our little inside cows ( the eat hay , poop and pee as much as cows!)

Update on Breastfeeding Saga

2008-05-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

Since we were at the Y for our weekly Homeschool Group swim date the leader of the group got this on an e-mail from the Y aquatics director:

I also wanted to touch base with you about the incident this week when our guard spoke to one of your group about breastfeeding. I wanted to apologize on his behalf and assure you that we have taken steps to make all staff aware of our support of breastfeeding anywhere in the YMCA. I assume that, as a young man, he was personally uncomfortable. However, that does not reflect our facility's policy and he should have not approached the mother in any way. If you will, please pass on our support to your group

So I am glad for other moms that they will train their staff so this won't happen again to someone not as outspoken as I.

I also want to thank everyone for the support on this very important issue. Thanks for all the comments!

Don't Mess with my Lactivist Self

2008-05-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

I have a pretty big outspoken mouth. I also graduated from Law School . I am a Certified Lactation Counselor. I have been nursing my children for 6 years this coming June having Tamdem nursed for at least 19 months.

Having said all that what would happen if I had been told that I had to stop nursing my child?Keep in mind I am in Minnesota where the Law specifically addresses nursing mothers and the right to nurse their child anywhere public or private where she and her child are allowed to be.

Minn. Stat. § 617.23
Indecent Exposure; Penalties(d) It is not a violation of the indecent exposure statute for a woman to breast feed.
Minn. Stat. § 145.9051998 Minn. ALS 407; 1998 Minn. Chapter Law 407; 1997 Minn. S.F. No. 3346
145.905 Location for Breast-FeedingA mother may breast?feed in any location, public or private, where the mother and child are otherwise authorized to be, irrespective of whether the nipple of the mother's breast is uncovered during or incidental to the breast-feeding.

Isn't the YMCA supposed to be family friendly??

This young male life guard had no idea who he was dealing with. He walks towards me and my nursling and out of his mouth comes the (for the lac of a better term) profanities. I answered between my teeth that what he was doing was against the Law . So he said he would call the manager after I told him that it was my right and I was protected by said Law.

Them comes this other male manager and a girl from the reception and they get close to me and my nursing 27 month old Gigi and starts:

"We are feeling uncomfortable..."

As I stopped him on his tracks with "discrimination" and "front page of the local newspaper" ( I have people!).

So after I was done with them they put their little tails between their legs and said they would check into bringing the information to their staff.

A few minutes later the girl comes back and apologizes profusely and says she talked with another manager who said they have the Law posted and that they are indeed a "Breastfeeding Friendly" institution.

I gracefully accepted the apologies and told them to do a better job training their personnel.

They never saw the train coming......

My new obsession.

2008-04-28T21:17:00.000-07:00

This is my new obsession on the TV. I just love this serial killer. I am paying more for satellite TV so I can watch the show sooner than on TV.

I always love those kind of shows, movies and books anyway....

My dark side??? ( hey I did graduate from Law School)

It has been a while....

2008-04-28T21:07:00.000-07:00

We have been busy and we have had computer problems.
We have been playing a lot of Roblox and MD has gotten into Star Wars.
The Force has been with us.

New drug to treat childhood syndrome

2008-03-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

The bottle say:
"If they can't see it your way than it is time for Obay"

The story
from:http://www.roughboy.net/shinola/?p=48

"These fake pharmaceutical ads began appearing round Souther Ontario early in February. There was much speculation at first as to who was behind the ads. There was no obvious provenance on the ad pieces themselves. Suspected culprits ranged from the Church of Scientology to street artist Frank Fairey (aka OBEY). On February 15th, Colleges Ontario fessed up and then unveiled the 2nd phase of the campaign on February 25th. The general point of the campaign was to encourage parents to let their kids make up their own minds about pursuing post-secondary education and more specifically to consider a college of applied arts and technology as an alternative to university, evidently something most parents were reluctant to do according to Colleges Ontario."

Thanks Jan Hunt ( Naturalchild.com) for the e-mail!

check out:

http://whycollege.ontariocolleges.ca/en/obay.html

Awesome photography

2008-03-09T12:10:00.000-07:00

My father is a photographer and I grew up around advertising and arts. I love photos and can't get enough of looking at great ones. It does not need to come from a professional or artist. I like even just regular home stuff.

I came across this site today :

http://www.artphotogallery.org/02/artphotogallery/home.html

Some amazing photography here. I can look for hours on end. Here are some of my favorites:

This is Ansel Adams

Found my brother's kids.

2008-03-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

I lost a brother in his early twenties 20 years ago. He had a baby girl and a little boy at the time. Last I saw them was in 1998. Since then I talk to their mom sporadically. But I found them at ORKUT, a Google network that the Brazilians love to use.
I have been elated the last 24 hours to be able to see them and message them and catch up on how they are doing.

My brother was a special person. I miss him.

Family Bed

2008-03-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

We have a family bed in our house. The kids also each have their own room that they love. MD even spent a couple of months sleeping in his new bunk bed in his room last year. But her is back with us and Brian and I love it.

We usually also sleep with Gigi's stuffed animals ( usually cows, a pig or guinea pigs) and Mario, Luigi and Yoshi.

Also sleeping time is when Gigi becomes our little blue princess. Thanks to Danielle's beautiful daughters for the costume.

Here are some pictures of our BIG Family Bed!

Super Mario Galaxy Music

2008-03-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

Not only Super Mario Galaxy is beautiful to watch and play but I love the music. Here are a few samples:

I love everybody in the world

2008-03-03T22:37:00.000-08:00

Brian gave me a laptop for my birthday. It is really a family present. Having two computers is a must right now with MD playing on-line a lot.
One of the reasons to get a laptop was that MD does not like to stay downstairs in the office at night alone. We all come up and he comes but he would rather play a little longer.
The laptop makes it easy for him to play in bed while daddy sleeps next to him and I can be with Gigi in the room next door until she falls asleep ( and I catch up on my DVR'ed shows)
So one day last week I come in the room to get something while he was playing and dad was zonked out and he turns to me and say: "I love every body in the world! I love everyone!"
What a bliss to be 5 years old and feel unconditionally loved and respected and above all heard.
Yes, we always get what MD and Gigi want, or try really hard and strive for it. Not always possible right away. We put our best effort and the children trust that we will do and if it does not happen they are so understanding.
Also Sunday I was a bit stressed out with a messy house so MD picked up his room all by himself after saying he was going to do so. I didn't even see it until hours later when we came to play upstairs. Picking up tends to overwhelm him after a few minutes. I guess it took me by surprise to see him get it done because he felt mom needed help.
Having said that I have to add that Gigi is jealous of the "dang" laptop and is always in between, nursing just because it is in my lap.
So Alex put that thing down and give her all the attention she needs!NOW! (OK It is almost 1:00AM everyone is sleeping now but me...)

The First Movie- being there fully

2008-02-29T08:43:00.000-08:00

I published MD's first YouTube movie yesterday. It is less than a minute. He has been wanting to make movies to post. I can finally get them uploaded to the computer. He said he is going to make lots of movies. He also got a Shining Stars cat ( he got to name a real star Cute Kitty)and has been playing that online together with Roblox. This week has been a week where I have posted on boards very little. I have spent the week playing with my kids. On Tuesday I had help to clean the house. I finally got the play room organized so I could bring the big box of Playmobil for the children to play. Needles to say that the house is back to "normal" in one day. Yesterday I just played with the kids. I did not clean anything. It looks like a tornado came by or did it?
I have been thinking about Lisa Heyman ( another unschooling mom who just passed away so young) and Hannah ( Diane Jenner's beautiful daughter who also is no longer here with us).
What if today, this moment , was the last moment you had with your children? What would you be doing them?
I got to go buy my Gigi her OINK ( a Shining Stars pig) that she wants.
Then I will be back home to make some more movies with MD.
I will be with my kids and I will be enjoying them because that is what Lisa would be doing right now.

Happy Girl

2008-02-24T21:23:00.000-08:00

It was finally warm enough for Gigi to go outside for longer than 5 minutes. We got all dressed up in barn clothes and headed to got help Daddy do chores. She had so much fun. I got a few minutes caught on tape and you can see her smile.
The house became a nightmare. Even Nene, MD's beloved cat, found a mouse and walked into his bedroom with a dead little thing as a gift. She just left it there in the carpet in front of him.
As a disclosure for those who may be thinking :"Oh my!! She has mice in her house" . Yes we do. With all the grain out in the farm as soon as it gets cold they are in the house. The cats help a lot but it is impossible to get rid of the pesky creatures.
Today I was talking to a friend of mine from Sweden about how here in the US they are more and more pushing kids to learn to read earlier. She is also and uschooler and we have many great talks about children, parenting, partners, family and life in general. As I recall in Brazil kids where not "alphabetized" until they were 7 or 8. Why do they want kids her in the US to be reading at five or else they are labeled learning disable or behind?
I hear about people teaching their kids to learn as early as 3 even 2. It seems like the more they push younger kids, more hours, more school days, less recess... the worse it gets.
Also the amount of time kids spend here is just way more than in my time. In my time in Brazil you either went to school from 8:00AM until noon or 1:00PM until 4:30-5:00PM all the way until you graduated. So no one stayed in school as long as American kids do.
I went to a Brazilian private school all my life until 11th grade when I did go to private American high school. In my experience the Brazilian school covered more subjects even deeper than the American school.
Not that it was "better". I can talk about all the damage my brothers and sister suffered in school there. I did a little better in some ways. But I still studied to pass the tests and not because I wanted to learn. Talk about a waste of time!
I was fortunate to have a mom who when I wanted to come to the US to work for a dog handler at 16 year old supported me all the way. I left school for a year and it was a life changing experience. She was always that way. She would wake up and it would be too beautiful of a day to go to school so she would just declare that we would go to the beach or hiking and not school.
Well it is almost 1:00AM and I will stop rambling and go to sleep.
Good night.

Introducing my fabulous children.

2008-02-23T10:10:00.001-08:00

MD (a.k.a. Mario) is my oldest. He is 5 and a half years old. His birthday is June 24th. He was born an intense little guy. I think that is why found Attachment Parenting and Unschooling. I have learned so much from him. He is a pretty intense child but also very loving and caring towards mom, dad, little sister and all the animals we have. He worries about everyone.
His passions right now are Mario and Roblox. He has even built a game at Roblox.com under his Roblox name Mario555555. Check it out!!!!!!He is a big kid and usually others think he is older just because of his size. He loves making friends and playing pretend .
Gigi (my little cowgirl) is a very active 2 year old. Right this moment she is playing piano as I type and singing. She is nonstop. We call her "tornado girl". She gets into everything and like to play with flour, rice, anything that feels good in her fingers and ,...well .....whole body.
She loves the cows an there is nowhere she rather be than out helping dad with the cows.
Unfortunately this winter has been too cold and she is seldom out. Gigi also LOVES her guinea pigs Sugar and Buttercup. She loves her Little Pony toys, farm animal toys, books, and stuffed animals.
Here are the videos I made of my life's treasures:

The first day and introductions.

2008-02-21T18:30:00.000-08:00

I am starting this blog today to journal my life with my kids. I have been inspired by blogs that I have been reading written by other wonderful unschooling moms and dads and their amazing children.
I have done many things in my life, I have graduated from Law School, moved to a different country, worked in many different fields, lived in 5 different states in the US, traveled a bit too but the most important thing I have ever done in my life was to have my children.
Funny thing is that I used to say that I did not know what I wanted to do when I grew up. I used to say that until I was 36 and had my first child.

I now know that there is nothing I want to do more in life right now than be with my two amazing, inspiring, beautiful children.
I am also so lucky to have a husband like Brian. He is the hardest working man I have ever met.

He is a loving, caring, supportive father and partner. I also think he is hot so that helps!:)

So here it goes world......

Holy Cow is PolyKow!

What I got on Target!!!!!!!!!!

How Kids Learn~~~!

Easter eggs, angels, dragons and wolves!!!!!!

Snow on the ground-where is Spring????

It has been a long time!!!!

A Day at the Beah in Minnesota in November!!!!!!!!!

Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!! Link and Barbie Musketeer!

Every Pony needs a little girl to love!

Parenting on Facebook.

Bubble Fun !!!!!!

From Tiger to Wolf in one afternoon!

Gigi makes a cake and eats it too!

Oxbow Zoo with friends.

Life before my children.

All the pretty little horses- Should we get Gigi a pony???Please VOTE! ;-)

Gigi nursing her baby

Unschoolers having fun in Minnesota!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kids interview about Mom-Meme

Happy- I have been tagged!

Happy Childhood

N00B spectacles

New Years Resolution!

Hubby Mine

Merry moments on Christmas day!

Bold the things you have done

Have you cake and eat it too!!!!!!

On a F**k Roll

Mad Cow

The Last Unicorn

More hair tranformations!

Naruto- what is in a name?

Selfish Passion

Racer X nd MD

Princesses can do chores too

Hot Dogs and Gigi

Racer X and Gigi

Singing

We won!!!!!!!!!

We lost Landis.

Showing Dogs

My Indiana Jones

Learn Nothing Day- by Schuyler Waynforth

Vacancy

More Videos

Game Over- Addicted to Shrooms

Sinfull Morels

HOT COWS!!!!!!

I have People!

The Girls

Update on Breastfeeding Saga

Don't Mess with my Lactivist Self

My new obsession.

It has been a while....

New drug to treat childhood syndrome

Awesome photography

Found my brother's kids.

Family Bed

Super Mario Galaxy Music

I love everybody in the world

The First Movie- being there fully

Happy Girl

Introducing my fabulous children.

The first day and introductions.